LS LIVE: House passes Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill

21:39 February 12

FM Nirmala Sitaraman to reply on Budget tomorrow

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman will be replying on Budget in the House tomorrow at 10 AM.

21:20 February 12

Proceedings of House extended till midnight 

The proceedings of the House have been extended till midnight. 

20:51 February 12

House discusses welfares for Anganwadi workers

The members of the House are discussing welfare measures and working conditions of the Anganwadi workers.

While MPs have also pitched for increased wages for the workers to at least Rs 10,000, some also listed the tasks that are part of the workload for Anganwadi workers.

20:28 February 12

 House passes Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill

The House has passed the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill. 

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad addressed the arguments made by Opposition MPs on the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

He claimed that India's rank has improved from 186 in 2015 to 163 in terms of enforcing contracts, and also said that the country has improved in the ease of doing business.

He addressed the criticism over bringing in an amendment.

"After an arbitral award is given, if it is found that fraud has been committed then this gives the option of stay by a court. If an award is given against the Union Government or a State government is given by fraud and an investor wants to enforce it, is it fair that thousands of crore of taxpayers' money," he added.

20:13 February 12

'Committed to making India 'hub for international, domestic arbitration'

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Centre is committed to make India a big hub for international and domestic arbitration.

He added that India needs a fillip to institutional arbitration. 

"We welcome arbitrators of any nationality," he added. 

19:07 February 12

BJD says Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill complicated

BJD MP Pinaki Misra also weighed in on the debate on the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill in the House.

He said that "India was scored poorly when it comes to enforcing contracts" and added that the drafting of the bill is so complex.

He also appealed to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to evaluate the bill again.

18:49 February 12

BJP issues three-line whip for Lok Sabha MPs

A three-line whip has been issued by BJP to its MPs in the House stating that some very important legislative business will be taken up for discussion and passing tomorrow.

"All BJP members are requested to be positively present in the House throughout the day from 10 am onwards tomorrow & support the government's stand," the party said to its MPs.

18:49 February 12

Lok Sabha to convene at 10 am tomorrow

The House will convene at 10 am tomorrow instead of the scheduled 4 pm, Speaker Om Birla said.

18:26 February 12

Discussion on Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill begins

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad presented the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill in the House. 

He said that the bill provides that if an application under Section 34 can be considered if arbitration is awarded, for the purpose of setting it aside on certain grounds.

"There is also a provision for a stay on Section 36 on filing of an application. But there was no provision to stay the arbitration award even if it is beset by fraud or corruption," he said.

17:04 February 12

Zero Hour begins in House

Lok Sabha is taking issues of urgent importance during the Zero Hour. 

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raises concerns regarding disengagement at the Pangong Lake in Ladakh.

16:47 February 12

Harsh Vardhan answers on setting up AIIMS across country

Union Health, and Science and Technology minister Harsh Vardhan answered questions from MPs on the setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country. 

MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu questioned the Budget allocation for setting up AIIMS in their states.

However, Vardhan replied saying that the Centre requires coordination from the state governments in setting up the facilities.

16:37 February 12

BJP MP moves privilege motion notice against Rahul Gandhi

BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal has moved Privilege Motion Notice against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, citing 'serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House on Thursday.

16:08 February 12

Proceedings of House begin

The proceedings of the House and it has taken up Question Hour.

The first question has been posed to Union minister Prakash Javadekar by a BJP MP from Uttarakhand on the vacant positions in the local Doordarshan and Akashwani offices.

15:36 February 12

Lok Sabha Budget Session LIVE Updates

New Delhi: Congress Members of Parliament K Suresh and TN Prathapan today gave an adjournment motion notice in the House demanding a discussion on a hike in fuel prices.

With the petrol and diesel prices surging to new highs people across cities have raised the demand for the government to find out ways to reduce the prices. 

During her budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the imposition of Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) of Rs 2.5 per litre on petrol and Rs 4 per litre on diesel. 

However, there would be no additional burden on the consumer overall as Sitharaman during Budget presentation also proposed to reduce Basic Customs Duty on these items. 

Sitharaman said that an AIDC of Rs 2.5 per litre has been imposed on petrol and Rs 4 per litre on diesel. However, blended fuel-- M-15 petrol and E-20 petrol -- will be exempted from cesses and surcharges on the lines of other blended fuels (like E-5 and E-10) if these blended fuels are made of duty paid inputs, Sitharaman had said.

(ANI)